Page 3 - Chief Justice Of India

SC regains full strength as CJI Gavai administers oath to two new judges

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Friday administered oath to Bombay High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Patna High Court Chief Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi. The two were elevated to the Supreme Court on August 27. With their elevation, the apex court is set to regain its full working strength of 34 judges, including the CJI. Justice Pancholi will be in line to become the CJI in October 2031 after Justice Joymalya Bagchi's retirement on October 2, 2031. He is scheduled to assume the CJI's office on October 3, 2031, and retire on May 27, 2033. On August 25, the apex court collegium recommended to the Centre the names of Justices Aradhe and Pancholi for elevation as top court judges. Collegium member and Supreme Court's Justice B V Nagarathna, however, registered a strong dissent to the apex court collegium's recommendation to elevate Justice Pancholi to the top court, saying his appointment would be "counter-productive" to the judiciary. Justice Nagarathna, the only wom

SC judgment on house demolitions reaffirmed citizens' rights: CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has said he was glad that the Supreme Court's ruling against the demolition of houses of accused persons without following due procedure of law upheld the rights of citizens. He was part of the SC bench that last year slammed instant bulldozer justice' and laid down pan-India guidelines on demolition of properties, saying the executive could become a judge and declare an accused as guilty and demolish his house. Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Goa High Court Bar Association in Panaji on Saturday, the CJI also explained the reasoning behind his landmark judgment on the creamy layer in the reserved category. Pointing out to the speeches by earlier speakers during the felicitation, which referred to his historic judgments, CJI Gavai said, I am really happy that we could do something as a custodian of the Constitution for protecting the rights of citizens whose houses were demolished without following the procedures of law. He said

States will be at whims of governor if nod to Bills withheld: Supreme Court

The court was hearing the maintainability of the reference made by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 143

'I will look into it': CJI Gavai on Delhi-NCR stray dog removal order

CJI BR Gavai has assured a review of the Supreme Court's order to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets, after the matter was raised in court citing earlier legal provisions

Rights without knowledge are of no use, says CJI Gavai at NALSA event

Rights without knowledge are of no use: CJI Gavai

One nation, one poll: JPC likely to meet July 30; Ex-CJIs may share views

The next meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 'One Nation, One Election' is likely to be held on July 30, panel chairman P P Chaudhary said. In an Interview with PTI Videos, Chaudhary said Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha and Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde might be called to express their views in the next meeting. The JPC, headed by BJP MP Chaudhary, has been speaking to jurists and legal experts as it prepares its recommendation on the bill. Former chief justices of India, J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud, interacted with the committee during its eighth sitting on Friday. "The committee is discussing the issue very seriously and various legal luminaries, including former Chief Justices of India, have given their views to help us understand if this idea fits within the constitutional framework," he said. Chaudhary said the next meeting of the committee will possibly be held on July 30. Asked when the committee will submit its report, Chaudhary said there is no hurry because the v

CJI Gavai calls for reforms in legal system while addressing law graduates

The Indian legal system has been facing unique challenges and is badly in need of fixing, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said on Saturday. Delivering Convocation Address at Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad at Justice City near here, Justice Gavai advised students to go abroad for studies on scholarships, not to put pressure on family finances. "Even though I conclude that our legal system is badly in need of fixing, I remain cautiously optimistic that my fellow citizens will rise to the challenges, CJI Gavai said. "Our country and legal system are facing unique challenges. Delays in trials can sometimes go for decades. We have seen cases where someone has been found innocent after spending years in jail as an undertrial. Our best talent can help us resolve the problems that we are facing," he further said. He advised the passing out graduates to seek mentors not for their power, but for integrity. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Supreme Court Judge Justice PS Narasimha als

Ambedkar wanted judiciary to be free from executive interference: CJI Gavai

Dr B R Ambedkar spoke about the supremacy of the Constitution and believed that judiciary should be free from interference from the executive, Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai said here on Tuesday. He was speaking after being felicitated by the Maharashtra legislature upon his elevation to the top judicial post. Ambedkar had said that we all believe in the supremacy of the Constitution which will keep the country united during peace and war, Gavai said in his address to the legislature. The Constitution gives rights to the three wings -- Executive, Legislature and Judiciary -- and according to Ambedkar, judiciary has to work as a watchdog and custodian of citizens' rights, the chief justice said. Ambedkar also said that judiciary should be free from executive interference, he added. The CJI also quoted Ambedkar as stating that the Constitution cannot be static, it has to be organic and keep evolving. Earlier, both houses of the Maharashtra legislature congratulate

Supreme Court urges Centre to reclaim CJI residence from DY Chandrachud

Justice Chandrachud demitted office of CJI in November 2024 but continues to reside in the Type VIII bungalow nearly eight months later

Interpretation of law, Constitution must suit society's needs: CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai on Saturday said the interpretation of law or the Constitution has to be "pragmatic" and in a way that suits the needs of society. Speaking at a felicitation organised for him by the Bombay High Court here, he also mentioned that recently he had received complaints about the rude behaviour of "some of the colleagues", and urged the judges to protect the reputation of the institution. Citing a past Supreme Court judgement, Gavai said any law or the Constitution has to be interpreted in the context of "problems faced by the present generation." "The interpretation has to be pragmatic. It has to be one that suits the needs of society," he added. Judges are expected to work as per their conscience, the oath of office and law, but "should never be perturbed once the matter is decided", he said. A judge should cut off his mind from the matter and forget what happens to it thereafter, he added. Talking about the appointment of judges, the

CJI Gavai vows full transparency in collegium, no compromise on merit

Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai on Friday assured to infuse "complete transparency" in the collegium system of appointment of judges, wherein merit will never be compromised and all sections of society will get representation. The CJI, who was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India last month, was speaking at the Bombay High Court in an event organised by the Bombay Bar Association to honour his elevation to the highest judicial position in the country. CJI Gavai said since his predecessor Justice Sanjeev Khanna was the CJI, the collegium has tried to infuse more transparency in matters of appointments. He added that SC Justice Dipankar Datta previously at an event in Nagpur last week spoke about interference in the working of the collegium. "I assure everyone, we will adopt a procedure of complete transparency. Merit will never be compromised. We will have representatives from all sections of society. Names of all recommended will be followed up," the CJI said. He ...

Constitution defines roles of legislature, executive, judiciary: CJI Gavai

Addressing the issue of "judicial activism," the CJI asserted that it is necessary for "upholding" the constitution and rights of the citizens

Technology must aid, not replace, human mind in judicial decision: CJI

Technology must complement, not replace, the human mind in judicial decision-making, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has said while emphasising that the value of discretion, empathy and judicial interpretation is irreplaceable. In his keynote address on "Role of Technology in the Indian Legal System" at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London, the CJI said while the judiciary welcomes innovations like automated cause lists, digital kiosks and virtual assistants, it must ensure that human oversight, ethical guidelines and robust training are integral to their implementation. "The value of discretion, empathy and judicial interpretation is irreplaceable," Justice Gavai said and pointed out that the Indian judiciary is well-positioned to develop homegrown ethical frameworks tailored to the country's constitutional and societal realities. "We possess the technological expertise, the judicial foresight and the democratic mandate to build systems tha

'Judicial corruption weakens trust': CJI Gavai amid Yashwant Varma case

CJI Gavai flags corruption and misconduct within judiciary, stresses transparency, defends collegium system; post-retirement roles raise ethical questions amid Yashwant Varma cash case scrutiny

SC to hear plea against certain Jamia Nagar demolition notices next week

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear next week a plea against proposed demolitions of certain alleged illegal properties at Jamia Nagar in the national capital. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih initially asked the lawyer to approach the Delhi High Court against the notices for demolition issued by the civic authorities. Go to the high court, the CJI said. There was an order of this court that a 15-day prior notice was needed, the lawyer said. But here a notice pasted and it says we should evict. Notice pasted on May 26, the lawyer said, adding that there has been no hearing. If this can be heard then we may have some recourse, he said. The bench then agreed to list the plea for hearing next week. Recently, authorities have issued demolition notices to several houses in the Jamia Nagar area of Delhi's Okhla, citing encroachment on land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. The notices, dated May 22 and pasted o

'Cheap publicity': SC slams plea over CJI Gavai's Maharashtra visit

Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking probe into protocol breach during CJI BR Gavai's Maharashtra visit, calling it a 'cheap publicity' stunt and imposing ₹7,000 cost on petitioner

'No legal sanctity': VP Dhankhar questions probe into Justice Varma case

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar criticises the in-house committee's investigation into Justice Yashwant Varma corruption case, calling it legally weak and lacking transparency on evidence

'It's about respect': CJI Gavai flags absence of officials in Maharashtra

CJI BR Gavai expressed disappointment over the absence of Maharashtra's top officials during his first visit to the state after taking charge as the 52nd Chief Justice of India

All high court judges entitled to full pension, rules Supreme Court

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday held all high court judges, including additional judges, will be entitled to full pension and retirement benefits. The top court said the former chief justices of the high court will get Rs 15 lakh per annum as pension. Observing that denial would amount to violation of right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution, a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said full pension will be paid to all irrespective of when they were appointed and whether they retired as additional judges or were later made permanent. The bench said discriminating among judges based on the timing of their appointment or their designation violates this fundamental right. The CJI, pronouncing the verdict, said families of deceased additional high court judges are also entitled to the same pension and retirement benefits as families of permanent judges. The bench said it has examined Article 200 of the Constituti

Constitution of India supreme, its pillars must work together: CJI Gavai

At a felicitation in Mumbai, CJI B R Gavai reiterated that the Constitution, not the judiciary, executive or Parliament, is supreme and urged mutual respect among institutions